super quick post tonight. i’m in the middle of throwing some stuff in a bag to head out for a few days of camping with my youth group. last year at this time i was freaking out that i had volunteered as a small group leader for this same camp with the youth. yea, i’m not a camping girl. my “camping” expereience is nil and the camping i do involves the carribean ocean, a hammock, a cababna boy, seafood, $5 coffee and some serious hard core shopping…um, otherwise find another chica. but, because i love the youth at my church so much and because the next best thing to the carribean ocean is Leaky, TX ;) I headed up last year. I was pleasantly surprised. Once i got over the centipede in the shower, the paralyzing fear of scorpions crawling into my bunk, the obvious lack of air conditioning and cabana boys and the HOT FREAKIN’ TX SUN….I was fine. So this year…..I’m going back. I know. I’m a rockstar. I’ll be gone until Sunday afternoon with no cell phone or internet service and my $5 heroine coffee will be downgraded to Folgers crack so I’ll be cranky but I should be over it by Wednesday so if you need me…wait until then.

In other unplifting news I was in Austin last night for the Free to Succeed Tour with David Jay & Jasmine Star. I feel like I’ve lived in Austin the past 3 weeks….not that I’m complaining…because let’s face it…Austin rocks. 

If I had time I would seriously talk about this in great length. I was SOOOO pleased that this was totally not an informercial plugging all of DJ’s fabulous (and completely above informercial-ism-nes-stuff-yea) but I really thought it was going to be alot of “buy my product and you’ll be rich beyond your wildest dreams and then will retire at the ripe age of 33 and get to go camping in the carribean all the time” 

Yea, so not like that. This 4 short hours was packed full of nothing short of inspirational goodness and just two genuine people that happen to be very successful at what they do. It was totally based on their enthusiasm to first and foremost, be good people…..and because of that it naturally overflows into their business and into their photography.  DJ was adorable and humble and happy and quite funny. Jasmine was a little photo fashionista who was fired up about her career and her life and where she’s been and where she’s going.  It was just good stuff. I was so happy when I left and even 24 hours later my mind is still reeling with ideas, inspirationan and techniques that I will be implementing into my life and projecting into my business.  The last couple months have been really transitional for me, there’s a new wedding website in the works and so much on the horizon and now I feel like I can dig in and get stuff done.  Things will be changing and baby…change is GOOD. K.I.R to my girl Jas.

Awesome.

I’m off to hunt for a cabana boy to pack in my bag.

Today I spent the entire day with the most amazingly creative and incredibly talent John Michael & Dalisa Cooper of AltF.  I’m pretty new to the workshop circuit and have come to realize that not all are created equal. However, I had high hopes since I’m such a fan of JMC and his work. Dalisa is a total sweetheart and flippin adorable and I couldn’t wait to spend the day soaking in some of their creative genius. Even with high hopes I still managed to be blown away. About 20 minutes into the workshop I thought, “they so didn’t charge enough for this”  It was a small intimate workshop of about 15 other photographers and so relaxed and laid back. I typically stay pretty quiet at these things and prefer to soak it in but I felt totally at ease with everyone and JMC answered every question that was thrown at him and more. Eric Doggett hosted at he and his wife were so gracious.  I can’t wait to share all of the details later tonight but for now, I must run and get the littles settled into bed and unpack, unload, upload and throw up a couple shots from the workshop.This is seriously good stuff people. John & Dalisa are on a 9 city tour and several locations are sold out but CHECK IT OUT and GET THERE if you can! I’m only sad I couldn’t stay ALLLL weekend!

Update:

so i got everyone tucked away to sleep and wanted to share a few more details. it was a great mix of shooting, q&a, workflow, lighting, posing, business philosophy and just john and dalisa sharing what has made them a household name in the photography industry.  so i had several small ephiphanies while i was sitting there. and there were moments when i felt like the doors flug open in my mind and the white doves were released and a choir of angels sang “halleluja” over me.  really, as i was leaving i felt bad that i had been armed with all this amazing information as well as totally buzzin’ with inspiration. i couldn’t believe i didn’t have to donate a kidney to get into this. i seriously was going to ask dalisa if she wanted a lung….maybe JMC could use my liver. it was that good.

We got to watch John in action as he shot a quick engagement session at the beginning of the workshop and then we ended with a bridal and work on one of his conceptual pieces which he’s doing at each workshop. in dallas he did his take on this infamous beauty of a bride.

You can see his take using the beautiful and wicked cool Kate Mefford of Juxtapose Photography. It’s incredible.

 Here he is getting ready to demo his video lights. i’m so in love with video lights so i was super excited to find out he uses them as well. good stuff! uh, the hat was a nice prop for a bit later.

this is tara marie rockin’ the model.

For the conceptual piece at this workshop he said he’d had this idea for a couple years. He’s actually been hinting for that long that he wanted to do this so today he finally got the chance. These are a couple of him doin’ his thing. I can’t wait to see his final edits of these.

Bonnie & Clyde

So i don’t flippin care what the price of gas is right now. Get your ass to the nearest veryaltf workshop….um, now people.

For anyone out there that is at all familiar with wedding photography or this industry you’ve probably at some point heard of Mike Colón. Mike has made a name for himself in this business catering to the ultimate-high-end bride and clientele. He’s photographed some top notch celebrities like Usher and most recently Timberland. I’m not going to go into the phenomenon he actually is….it’s apparent in his work….you can check that out on your own. However, what I find incredibly admirable is that this man, who literally is “big time” (per his own wife, Julie, in his most recent post on his blog) is what was reeling through his head the next night as he lie in a hotel room plagued by jet lag after she had pegged him, indeed, “big time”

“Something Julie said to me last night before we went to bed is still
ringing in my head. It was something she has never said to me before
and it kinda felt weird hearing her say it. She said “You’re big
time.” She’s always told me how proud she is of me but has never
straight up told me I am “big time” before. I have to admit that for
a second it gave me a big head, but I quickly realized that everything
we have accomplished in our business and in life has been 100% by the
awesome and undeserved grace of God. Although we have worked extremely
hard, I simply can’t forget about the dozens of times God bailed us
out of sure financial disaster! “

Take the time to read his entire post here…. it will surely humble you.

I’ve not been in the industry long enough to remember what it was like before this new breed came along. I’m not old school. I’m VERY new school…..I don’t know what it was like once upon a time when pro guys & gals alike were so uber competitive that everyone held onto their deep dark little secrets and certain claims to fame, never sharing or taking the time to network with other industry pros. I’ve heard about this…..and I will say that occassionally and unfortunately I think it probably does still exist on some level…or maybe it’s a raging out of control problem that i’m just too naive to realize. But I’ve expereineced so very little of that….an occassional snub or someone not bothering to return an email when I’ve tried to reach out but overall I’ve been super lucky to connect with some amazingly talented photographers who have been more than willing to share their insights, mishaps and dreams when it comes to their photography business.

I just think it’s so refreshing to see people, regardless of how “big time” they really are, completely and utterly be humbled by what it’s really all about. Giving praise and glory to He who is really at the root of that success. Guys like Dane Sanders, Becker and David Jay are all in that “big time” circle but who continually humble themselves and show without mistake, what it truly means to be a success. And when you’re getting paid 20k for your mad photography skillz I think it says alot when you can sit back and really be at peace with what that actually means….and Who is actually responsible for it. And find time to share that with other professionals, openly and without this pretentious, selfish idealism that it’s all because of something you did or you’ve controlled.

Pretty cool stuff.

*let me preface this entire post with the fact that I HATE using “seniors”( cuz don’t you think “over 65″? )when referring to highschool seniors. yet, “highschool seniors” seems so redundant…and graduates or grads doesn’t really apply as of yet. for instance if i titled this post “attention GRADS!” you would automatically think i was referring to the graduates of this year right? what’s up with that? it’s the same as I hate referring to doing “belly” sessions as “maternity” it’s so matronly….but when you say “belly” not everyone knows what the heck you’re talking about….and pregnancy…again…too redundant.  just a lil’ something to ponder peeps.

So, it’s JUNE! And though I’ve been talking up my senior rep program for a while to many of my clients i haven’t “officially” launched anything…..so here it is.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a Senior Rep for Studio 423 pass this along! It’s good stuff!

Not only will each rep get their rockin’ session for FREE you’ll also get your own rep cards with one of your favorite images to hand out to your friends. With each and every friend that is referred in you then will get a $10 credit. But NOT another photo credit to be used here with me (though i’d love for you to spend as much as you’d like with me…i highly encourage it actually…it just feels good… ) because let’s face it…how many photos can one person really have of themselves?

 Nope, with each friend you send in you’ll get a $10 credit that is cummulative over the course of your entire senior year. At the end of the year we’ll add it all up and you’ll get a gift card to one of Studio 423’s favorite vendors!  Some rockstar places like Francesca’s or Veronyka’s. 

I’m assuming if you’ve made it this far in your academic career you can do basic math but let me break that down for ya….um, that means

10 friends - $100
20 friends - $200
30 friends - $300
and so on, and so forth….

do you even know how many cute freakin’ tunic dresses you can buy at Francesca’s for $300?

And guys….don’t worry! this isn’t just for the chicas! There’s plenty of love to go around for you too! so MAN UP!

I’m only taking 2 reps for each school so DON’T WAIT! If you’re interested email me for a quick lil’ application and get ready to have some serious fun this summer! Sessions are booking NOW! When fall hits you’ll be able to sit back, pass out a couple rep cards and watch the $ start addin’ up!

so kick off the summer with some seriously good fun! email me TODAY!

or tomorrow…

or the next day…

WOOT!

i’m lovin’ me some pink today.

be sure to check out the store and all the awesome things that are going on over there. i love the templates and actions in the store. holly & andie are uber talented. i’ve gotten so much stuff from the store i’ve had to show some serious self restraint lately! monthly themes and contests and forums…..ahhh, it’s a photographer’s dream! good stuff over there. check it out. big thanks to andie for showin’ me some pink love.